Holder for signal lanterns and flags



- `2 Sheets-Sheen 1. P. W. OOOLBAUGH. Holder for Signal Lantern and Flag. No. 232,461. I Patented sept. 21,1880.

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P. W. GOOLBAUG-H. Holder for Signal Lantern @und Flag.

No. 232,461. Patented Sept. 21

IN EN Tn Ff- 167W oojaugj l 55%@22220/ 'O UNITED STATES einen.

PATENT HOLDER FOR SIGNAL LANTERNS AND FLAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersilatent No. 232,461, dated September 21. 1880,

Application filed February 19, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. CooLBAUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal Lantern and Flag Holder j for Railway Trains and Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved device for displaying signal lanterns or flags, or both, on railway-trains, its object being to provide a cheap, compact, convenient, and efcient means for carrying a lamp or lantern of any pattern, or a flag, or both, at once upon the rear of a train of any class in full view of its engineer and fireman or of the engineerand {ireinan of a following train, thus lessening to a great extent the liability of the occurrence of the break-in-two and run-together77 accidents, so common when trains are provided with no rear signals in view from the locomotives. t

It has also for its object to detachably secure the lamp or flag in a definite locality, where they can always be found, thereby avoiding the oft-times fatal delays caused by searching for them in the coal-box, under the seats,

or in a car ahead.

The invention consists in a plate adapted for attachment latwise to a car-wall, and provided with a central eye or socket and a loop or rest projecting horizontally below and concentrically with said eye c, socketed and notched on its upper edge, in combination with an arm projecting above said loop or rest having a lamp-holder at one end, and its other end adapted to [it into the socket or eye of the plate, the arm being of proper size to fit into the notches of the loop or rest. When the stud is engaged with the eye or socket of the plate the armv projects horizontally and rests upon the loop in engagement with either of the notches of the same, according to the direction in which it is desired that the said arm shall stand with relation to the car-wall, as hereinafter explained.

It also consists in providing the plate as above constructed with a projecting bracket carrying a flag-staff socket either above or below the lamp-arm rest or supporting-loop, thus adapting the said plate to carry a flag for use by day as well as a lamp for use by night.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the lamp and flag holder as attached to a car. Fig. 2 is a inodication of the same with the Hag-holder above the lamp-arm. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate modications of the lampholder.' Fig. 5 shows a modication ofthe means of securing the lamp-arm to the plate. Fig. 6 is a view in elevation, showing position of lamp-arm when not in use.

The letter lA, Fig. l, designates the baseplate, having the attached socket B located at the upper portion of the plate; and C is a horizontal loop or rest secured to the plate just below the socket, and having notches d formed in its upper edge at opposite sides.

The lamp-arm/E has at its inner end a laterally-projecting stud, f, which extends upward into the socket B, and at its outer end said arm carries a lamp-holder, G, formed by curving a liat extension, It, of the arm into approximately semicircular shape and hinging to its tip the end of a similar Vapproximately semicircular arm, h', the other end of which is bent to form aiiat lug, g, which is adapted to lie against the straight edge of the arm E, and is secured thereto by a screw, i, when the holder is closed around a lantern.

Below the lamp-arm rest or loop a bracket, K, projects from the plate A, and carries a dag-staff socket, l, in such position that the stai' will extend therefrom upward throughv the said rest or leap, which thusserves as additional security against the lateral falling of 8 5 the staff.

Instead of the form of lain holder as shown in Fig. l, the outer end of t" e arm E may be provided with oppositely-curved spring-arms m, as shown in Fig. 3, approaching eachother at their tips, and provided with outwardlyared jaws a to facilitate the insertion of the lantern. These spring-arms are adjusted to snugly embrace and firmly support the lantern when it is forced between them, and to permit it to be withdrawn therefrom by the exercise of proper force.

The form of lamp-holder shown in Fig. l may be modified by omitting the retainingscrews t' and connecting the swinging curved arm h with the stationary arm h by a springhinge, as shown in Fig. 4, or in any other wellknown manner, the spring of the hinge serving to keep the hinged arm closed around the IOO lantern. The arm E may be connected to the plate A by means of a cross-head and slot, as shown in Fig. 5, in which O is a cross-head formed on theinner end of the arm E, at right angles to the plane of the lantern-holder. The lug B has an interior recess, and a horizontal slot, Q, is eut through to said recess. cross-head O, being inserted through the slot, is then turned to a vertical positiou,.which prevents its Withdrawal and brings the lanternholder to a horizontal position. Or a universaljoint or two-way joint may be used, and if such a joint be used and the loop or rest located below the flag-socket bracket the arm may be simply turned up when not in use, so that the lam p -holder Will embrace said bracket, and it may be so held by a suitable spring located at the joint or at the upper part of the plate.

When the holder of the construction shown in Fig. l is not in use the arm E may be detached and passed downwardv through the rest or loop and bracket, the lamp-holder hanging upon the former, as shown in Fig. 6. A suitable removable gua-rd may be arranged above the loop or rest to prevent the lamp-arm from being jolted out ot' its notch. The said arm may be made of any desired length, and may be secured to the plate by a bayonet-joint in lieu of the connections before referred to.

The shape ofthe lamp-holder, it will be understood, may be varied as desired to suit different forms of lanterns or lamps.

The lamp and flag holder may be secured permanently to the car, or may be attached thereto in a manner suitable for its ready removal. Whereit is permanently attached each ear will require four, one near each corner.

A convenient means of detachably securing the plate to a car is to provide said plate with three diamond or lozenge shaped 'openings and arrange in the car-Wall three screws with The diamond-shaped heads fitted with similarlyshaped Washers or covers, which t snugly into the openings of the plate.

The rubber Washers, by their elasticity, hold the plate with suitable force.

The device as now described may be used for displaying signals according to any prearranged code, and is admira-bly adapted for locomotive service.

Having now described my invention, I claim- 1. In asignal-lantern holder, a plate adapted for attachment atwise to a car-Wall, and provided with a central eye or socket and a loop or rest projecting horizontally below and conccntrically With said eye or socket and notched` on its upper edge, in combination with an arm projecting above said loop or rest having a 6o lamp-holder at one end, and its other end adapted to it into the socket or eye of the plate, the arm being of a proper size to t into the notches of the rest, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a plate adapted for attachment ilatwise to a car-wall, and carrying a movable lamp-arm and a support for the same, of a flag-staff socket projecting from said plate, substantially as described.

3. The combined lamp and ag holder consisting of the base-plate A, socket B, notched loop or arin-rest-O, adjustable lamp-arm E, carrying the lamp-holder G, and the bracket K, carrying the flag-statt' socket, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK W. COOLBAUGH.

Witnesses J oHN P. OLoYD, I. C. GURKEY. 

